Mexico: Inflation climbs to seven-month high in February
Consumer prices rose 0.42% from the previous month in February, following the 0.48% month-on-month increase logged in January. According to the Statistical Institute (INEGI), February’s reading largely reflected higher prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages, and health more than offsetting lower energy prices.
Inflation climbed from 3.2% in January to a seven-month high of 3.7% in February, thus landing slightly below the upper bound of Banxico’s target range of 2.0%–4.0%. Meanwhile, annual average inflation held steady at the previous month’s 3.5% in February.
Core consumer prices, which exclude volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.36% over the previous month in February, up from January’s 0.33% increase. As for core inflation, it remained stable at 3.7%.